Page 335 - Proceedings book

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was cruel. Moreover, this personal grudge was fuelled by the gossips of other

aristocrats like Molligoda Adikar. He seemed to be satisfied with king’s order and
encouraged Ehelepola Kumārihāmi to proceed with king’s order.

“Thy husband is an ungrateful and despicable dog. As the fellow is not here
the penalty will be exacted from thee and thy children. If thou wilt not

forthwith pound the children, I shall order thee, to be given over to a Paduwa.”

At that Molligoda Adikar said to her, “Younger sister, do so and avoid the
disgrace to your birth.” She took the pestle in her hand and let it fall into the

mortar and immediately collapsed. The King shouted out and commanded that
the women should be forthwith removed and drowned in the Wewa.

(Manathunga, 2005, p.40)

3.1.2 The Chastity of Ehelepola Kumārihāmi

Ehelepola Kumārihāmi was said to be a beautiful woman. Kehelpannala (1896)
mentioned that the King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe used to enjoy Ehelepola

Kumārihāmi’s beauty while being at Paththirippuwa. (p.34) Manathunga (2005) has
also mentioned that the king, Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe had sent Ehelepola Adikar to

Sabaragamuwa province with the purpose of attending an official assignment. The

king had assigned that above mentioned assignment with the purpose of visiting
Ehelepola Kumārihāmi. On the contrary, Ehelepola Kumārihāmi was a woman who

loved and cared for her husband, and she rejected the king by slapping when the king
was entering her residence one night. (p.90) As Manathunga (2005) mentioned that

when she was hesitant to pound her own children, the king shouted that if she would

not adhere to king’s order, she would be given marry to a lower caste man (paduwa).
As soon as she grabbed the pestle, Ehelepola Kumārihāmi collapsed with utter grief.

(p.40) The aforementioned situation also showcased her love and care for her husband.
She faced the unlawful situation with her dhamma of being a chaste wife to her

husband. Furthermore, as Peiris (2002) mentioned that when the executioners reached

her, she did not permit them to touch her, instead of that she proceeded to Bogambara
lake with other three women. Though she was helpless at that moment, she did not let

break her chastity towards her husband. Her very final words before drowning into the
lake, determined her belief, love and care for Ehelepola Adikar. She believed that her

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